WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly is not underestimating mandatory challenger Robin Krasniqi ahead of their fight at Wembley Arena on March 16.

Welshman Cleverly made a big impression in the USA with his KO win over Shawn Hawk last November and now must remove Krasniqi before he can secure fights against top Americans Bernard Hopkins, Tavoris Cloud and Chad Dawson, or Kazakh Beibut Shumenov.

“Krasniqi will be a hard defence and he’s a fighter not to be underestimated," he said.

"I’ve got to beat him and in style to keep the heat on for a unification fight against Cloud, Dawson or Shumenov.

"Every fight is crucial for me, but there is extra pressure on this one to perform which I love because I fight best when the pressure’s on."

German-based Kosovan Krasniqi holds the WBO International title and has never been stopped in 41 fights with only two points losses very early in his career.

The two were set to fight on April 28 last year in professional boxing's return to the Royal Albert Hall in London, but Cleverly was forced with withdraw 11 days before the bout due to illness.